Adventures in Homemade Antiperspirant

If you are one of my friends, it will not surprise you to hear that I made my own antiperspirant the other day. :)

I know...it's another crazy idea I got off of the internet! But, in my quest to discontinue more and more commercial products with toxic ingredients, this was one I just needed to try. I had switched to using the Tom's of Maine brand which does not contain aluminum (some studies suggest it is linked with cancer, you'll have to decide for yourself), but it's expensive and you know I prefer to save money where I can! And now that I have more and more essential oils in my collection, I plan on making it a habit to try more homemade products. Besides, the recipe was easy enough and we were iced in - I decided to be productive on my day home from school.

I got the recipe off of a Young Living essential oils FB page:

1/4 cup each cornstarch and baking soda

6 tbs. coconut oil

10 drops each Purification and Thieves oils

I mixed the powdered ingredients together in a glass bowl, then basically "cut" the coconut oil in like you would cut shortening into a pie dough. Once it was all well mixed, I added in the oils a few drops at a time to get them all distributed. The result was a fairly stiff paste.

I had deliberately saved my empty Tom's container to reuse. I just dialed it all the way to the bottom and started stuffing balls of the mixture into the container. Now, mind you it was about 25 degrees outside when I was doing this so the coconut oil was staying solid okay. I'm not sure how it will go in the summer when we are at 100 and above!

In any case, this is what it looked like when I was done:

I went ahead and put it in the fridge for a little bit. I had more than fit in the container so the rest is in a glass container with a lid. 

The first time I used it I put it on with my shirt already on, and I noticed a tiny bit of oil on my shirt. So, since then I have been putting it on and waiting 5-10 minutes before putting on my shirt. I have had zero problems with the coconut oil being on my shirts.

But, how does it work? Fantastically!!! I was really doubtful this could work better than a commercial product, but so far I think it totally outperforms anything I have bought. Again, it's winter and we have pretty hot summers here. August will be a true test! But for now, it's what I'm going to stick with. It's been a whole week, and it's gotten warmer each day. Still no sweat or odor!

I just love being able to give up buying something and replacing it with something that is easy to make, and for which I already have the ingredients on-hand.

Disclaimer: I made this with Young Living oils which are the only oils I can say are all natural and safe to use. If you'd like to know more about Young Living Essential Oils, you can contact me at claburns@sbcglobal.net.

Sarah Claburn

Independent Distributor #1529805

Young Living Essential Oils

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! I pray that this week you will have time to stop and relax with your family, and really be able to enjoy and be thankful for your blessings. These last few months, as I watch a very dear friend go through the awfulness of cancer with her daughter, I am so very thankful for the simple gift of health.

It seems like I have been on a journey of health forever...but really I guess it started right before I got pregnant with my son. I had learned of a book called Protein Power and I dropped 10 pounds by ditching the carbs, and everyone joked I had lost weight just in time to gain it! But I had a great pregnancy because I stuck to what was working for me, I think I only gained 20-25 pounds with him. It was the same for my daughter. The most important lesson I have learned is to listen to my body, to weigh, sort of keep a mental food journal, and most importantly: pay attention to how I feel and how my clothes fit. I don't count calories or carbs. That's dieting - I eat healthy for me. And yes, that means I have evolved a little. I used to totally shun carbs, but after reading "The G Free Diet" I now allow myself foods like potatoes and gluten free pasta on occasion, and stick to a wheat/gluten free diet. In a perfect world I would only eat organic, non-GMO foods. But I don't have unlimited resources, so I do the best I can, and the food co-op Bountiful Baskets lets me get organic produce at a totally reasonable cost. We do our best to avoid artificial ingredients in processed foods like colors, flavors and preservatives, and when possible, I make our food from scratch, even spices mixes. That means no low-fat anything, no artificial sugars. Real. Food.

I have learned the value of supplementation and when possible, use vitamins. Which is why, when my sweet friend Leah sent me a FB message last Dec about these amazing oils she was using...I totally blew her off. I had just giving up selling Pampered Chef to concentrate more fully on my catering company, Nosh. I was signed up with a health company for my supplements and I had no more room for anything new. But everything is in God's time...and I was slowly "hearing" pieces about essential oils. And in September I was given the opportunity to go to an essential oils class and actually learn how they are used. That led to several weeks of research and study on the oils and who produces quality, pure oils that would be safe for my family. After a lot of thought and prayer, I went with Young Living. By this point Leah had been using them for a good year and had amazing stories to share. I was finally ready to listen! :) 

Which brings me to my last few posts. I am signed up, and have been using since October. I am not disappointed! I had only previously used oils for cleaning products...but oh what an amazing, broader purpose they have! For everything, yes, there is an oil. God gave us these amazing oils to use, and I am honored to be learning to use them. And the coolest part: I OWN FRANKINCENSE! Okay, it's silly, but as a Christian and growing up with the three gifts given to Jesus, it's just amazing to me that I use the same oil that was given to his family. :)

Well, it's late and I am probably droning on, so I'll stop for now. I hope you will continue to follow me on my journey of health. If you have any questions about the oils please let me know!

Sarah Claburn

Independent Distributor #1529805

Young Living Essential Oils

Menu Planning Calendar

What's for Dinner??

So, I'm trying to be better prepared this year. We've got football, confirmation...you know, the normal things that come with kids growing older. So, I sat down over Labor Day and made a month of meals. I started by making lists of dishes: crockpot, oven and stove top; side dishes. Once that was done I just started plugging them in, taking into consideration what would be going on any given day. The best thing about doing it on a Google calendar is the ability to make reoccuring events - woo hoo!!! Yes, we'll eat tacos often, they are easy to put together, so let's get that on every few weeks. You get the idea, right? On this calendar I also added in the URL's for online recipes just so I don't have to relook them up. Anway, look, enjoy. I hope you find something delicious to make!

So this will automatically put the latest month up...I apologize for the months it might not be completely filled out..keep checking back!

I am a bad blogger...I admit it. But thankfully I don't have a demanding following. I really used to try to blog, but life always seems to get in the way. Last May my parents were in a car accident and my Dad left us to gain his Heavenly reward. Since then it's really been a blur of...I'm not sure what. Summer, helping Mom, cleaning out things, then back to school. I'm teaching 5 days again this year which is fun, but at times overwhelming with my two kids, hubby and church commitments.

However, along the way I have tried to keep to my goals of living a healthy life as best as possible. I am not perfect, we do occasionally get fast food (as long as I am fairly sure of the ingredients). I did not produce much of a garden in the drought this past summer but have friends who were happy to share their bounty. I still got jelly/jam made and tried my hand at putting up tomato sauce.

Pinterest has been a great source for new foods, recipes and ideas. If you're not already on there...do it!

My latest commitment to healthy living has been to refocus on my household products. A long while back I started making my own cleaners with baking soda, vinegar and borax, but that's as far as I got. Friends got me re-interested in making my own laundry products, and two different friends even brought me some of their handmade laundry soap! I wasn't sure if I could use it in my HE washer, but I have had no trouble with it, and my clothes are really clean!

That, of course, got me thinking again about what I use as far as cosmetics, soaps and shampoos, so I bought a book recommended to me by my friend Sarah Anderson: Beauty Secrets of the Bible by Ginger Garrett. You can order it from her website, I recommend it!

http://gingergarrett.com/books/beauty_secrets.php

She gives some good advice on how to use simple ingredients like olive oil, honey, and dry milk powder to make cleansers and toners. One thing I really love is that she also includes daily Bible studies to help your soul while you are learning to care for your body!

I really want to share this new information, so look for upcoming blogs showing how I've learned to make all of these new, wonderful products!

Fresh Tomato Tart

Last week a good friend took me out to her garden to give me a "few things" because she had too much. Well, that included about 30 fresh, ripe tomatoes. And yes, I've eaten sliced tomatoes every day since, but wanted to do something a little different. My sister Leigh makes a lovely tart, so I got the recipe from her and made it for Father's Day dinner tonight. Thanks Leigh, it was as delicious as I remembered!!! And honestly, it couldn't be simpler:

Make a pie crust, buy a crust, whatever you feel like doing!

Layer with about 8 ounces of grated mozzerella, and about 2 tablespoons of fresh, chopped Basil.

Slice tomatoes into about 1/4 inch slices.

Place the tomatoes in a single layer over the Basil and cheese. Season with sea salt, fresh cracked pepper and drizzle with olive oil.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is nicely browned.

Let cool slightly so it firms up a bit. Slice and garnish with fresh Basil leaves. ENJOY!

My "G-Free" report

Hey! Can you believe it's already July? Where is the summer going?


Well, the other day I took the kids to the library and was browsing the cookbook/diet book section, and I ran across the book "The G Free Diet" by Elisabeth Hasselbeck. I'm not sure why I picked it up, except that I have a few friends who are gluten-intolerant, and I was curious about it. It was a really easy read, and I posted on Facebook that I had read it. Well, my sweet friend Sarah A. made a flippant remark that I should report back to her on the highlights - here you go Sarah!!!! :)


The book was written by Elisabeth so that others wouldn't have to suffer like she has. For years she had suffered severe gastrointestinal problems, sometimes sending her to bed for a week at a time. Nobody had answers for her. She applied to be a contestant on Survivor: Australia and was accepted. Odd as it may seem, she says she felt WELL while scrounging for food in the outback, and when she returned to the States, she tried to introduce foods back one at a time to find the culprit. She researched and looked and determined that wheat seemed to be the problem, and she took it out of her diet, or so she thought. Some foods still made her sick, and after even more research, she found information on celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Doctors still didn't go along with her self-diagnosis, but once she moved to New York, she found an Australian doctor who finally ran the necessary tests and confirmed celiac's.


So, what is celiac disease? It's a "digestive disorder characterized by a toxic reaction to gluten, the protein found in certain grains." (G Free Diet). It's hereditary, chronic, and autoimmune. It destroys the tiny villi lining in your small intestines thereby preventing your body from absorbing nutrients, which can lead to a wide range of serious health problems. Researchers estimate it affects 1 in every 133 Americans, and many more are suspected of having a milder gluten sensitivity. However, less than 5% of people who have celiac disease actually know it. According to the book, it takes an average of 9-11 years to diagnose after the first onset of symptoms which is in stark contrast to Europeans who most often diagnose in the first year. Elisabeth and her doctor feel like part of the reason is because here in the States, we have big pharma who can offer up drugs to treat a lot of the symptoms, and doctors prescribe away. But for true celiac patients, there is NO CURE! You have to avoid gluten the rest of your life, a dietary solution.


Dr. Green says that doctors often confuse celiac disease with other conditions like IBS, acid reflux, Crohn's, intestinal infections and chronic fatigue syndrome.


Okay, so what are the symptoms? They vary and the list is long, but include: abdominal pain, anemia, constipation, delayed puberty, discolored teeth, excessive weight loss or gain, gas, headaches, joint or bone pain, reproductive problems, skin rashes, stunted growth in children, tingling or numbness in legs, Vitamin K deficiency. Patients might also have other sensitivities as well, including a lactose or peanut allergy or similar.


Next, what are some of the conditions that you can have that come from not treating celiac disease? Intestinal cancers, anemia, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's, osteoporosis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, Type 1 diabetes, and even some behavior disorders might be influenced like ADHD, depression and bipolar disorder. There are about 256 symptoms and health conditions associated with celiac disease!!


It can affect people of all ages and backgrounds, but especially those of Northern European decent. If one person in your family has it, your chances are as high as 1 in 22 that you do, too, but you must carry the gene for it. The odd thing is that you might not have any symptoms for a good portion of your life - Elisabeth didn't. But for some people, experiencing some sort of physical or emotional trauma can activate the condition. Hers was contracting a bacterial intestinal infection and she was never the same again!


If you think you might have celiac disease you need to go see a doctor for proper diagnosis. They can run a celiac panel which will either rule it out, or see where you are on the risk spectrum. Next they can do a small tissue biopsy, and then there is a genetic test if the first two point to celiac.


There is all the medical information she gives, well, at least a shortened version of it. The rest of the book is dedicated to helping you cook, shop, live and enjoy being gluten free!!


How does this all apply to me? Well, I've known for years that my body does better without wheat. I became a "low-carber" right before my son was born, and when I stick to it I feel better, have no spots of eczema on my arms, no indigestion. Now that I've read the book, I don't think I have celiac, but I do think it's possible I am one of those with a gluten sensitivity (I know, there goes my orthorexia nervosa kicking in!!! LOL) and so I am willing to take certain steps to reduce the gluten in my diet and see how I feel. I'm just weird like that, I'd rather eat the food my body likes and works best with. The book is great because she gives lists of naturally gluten-free foods, and also lists of things that are off-limits or suspect. I'm already an avid label-reader in the grocery store, so watching for a few more things is okay by me.


I've already started buying some GFree "substituted" foods, and so far so good! I will say that the EnerG brown rice bread was TERRIBLE! However, we've made Hodgson Mill pancakes which were good. Gorrilla Munch cereal and Van's GF waffles are good. For snacks we've tried Envirokids Chocolate Crispy Rice bars, Pop Chips (made from popped potatoes), and Glutino pretzel twists (can't tell the difference). I have some apple muffin mix to try as well as a French Bread mix that I'll make today. And I bought some rice based penne to make a baked casserole for Sunday.


So, there you have it, my "G-Free Diet" book report. If you have ANY intestinal issues that you are being treated for, I'd highly recommend this book!! I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on TV, but I just think if you can change your food instead of taking a drug for a condition, it's worth at least trying. Here's a convenient link to the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/G-Free-Diet-Gluten-Free-Survival-Guide/dp/1599951886.


Have a great Independence Day weekend!!!!

All's not right in Gardenland, at least the squash part

Well, it's official. The squash crop is dead, stupid vine borers!!!! Yup, all of my plants are now garbage. Well, I think there are 2 still out there, but they could get yanked at any point!

So, you may ask, what the heck is a vine borer? Well, it's a bothersome pest that lays it's eggs at the base of your plant. They then hatch, chew into your plants and there they set up shop, chewing away. You may notice a wilt on your plants, maybe fruit that starts but quickly dies. At that point, it's too late! They are inside the stems cutting off all nutrients. Go look at the stem, you will probably see the tell-tale "frass", a sort of orangy sawdust where they have been chewing. Now, I've read that some people poke a sharp object in the stem to kill it, or even carefully slice open the stem, remove the worms and then rebury it to encourage new roots. Mine were so bad they just got yanked.

Now I must read and research and see how to get rid of the pupae that might be lurking in the soil...I'll have to try tilling and treating the soil along with crop rotation.

However, things are looking much brighter the next bed over - I have beans and peas!!!

The beans are "Kentucky Wonders" and the peas are Southern Purple Hull. As they mature the pea pods do turn a beautiful shade of purple and then you know they are ready to harvest. I am SO looking forward to making my first pot!

Well, that's all for tonight, I hope your garden is thriving without a pest problem. Happy harvesting!